If that's true, that would be awesome. I was fearing a way more expensive plan, but at that price, its worth it. That would mean the cheapest a phone&data plan would be around $90 with (retarded) fees and taxes included. Not bad, not bad at all.

I got a call a week ago that they changed the unlimited PDA plan for my Blackjack to include (IIRC) 1500 SMS messages and that I'd be saving $5/month since SMS is now included with the data plan.

Sounds like AT&T is bringing it inline with the iPlan.

AT&T does have a Smartphone plan though that has unlimited data for like $20/month. I wonder why the iPhone plan wouldn't be priced similarly.

As others have said, this is awesome if true.

Most of the full featured smartphones AT&T sells (Treos, etc.) require the PDA data plan, which is like an extra $40 by itself. I think some of the more limited ones (the Windows Mobile-based ones without touchscreens, etc.) might have that $20 data plan, but I'm not sure.

Normally the $20 unlimited data plan is only available to regular phones.

If the iPhone does get a plan that is only like $35-45 for unlimited data plus good minutes and SMS's, it is awesome. over the life of the 2 year contract, that would be a savings of $960 compared to the $40 voice + $40 data plan you'd normally have to get.... and even a savings of $480 over the course of a 2 year contract compared to a $60 a month plan. That definitely would make up for the cost of the iPhone itself.

elektrix, I think the "unlimited" plan refers to data and texting, not voice. $35-40/mo for data + voice would be untenable (esp since AT&T is supposedly giving Apple a cut of the revenue). They'd go out of business.

...but you have to ask the right person. There's a $20 unlimited data plan with 200 text messages (it's a MediaNET plan) that you CAN get added to any phone (PDA phones included), but you have to ask the right person. Three different reps said no at first, but on the fourth try they set me right up and it's worked perfectly since then.

The $20 plan is a bit slower and things like images get extra compression. You also can't tether to a laptop and you don't get an externally accessible IP. Works well for me though.

Yeah, its all nice IF true. But how could not one trust someone who's a "high-placed source with access to AT&T."

Then again, if its such a great plan, why in the world are they keeping quiet with it? Announcing it as early as possible would be the best way to ensure mass hysteria.

Yeah, I misread it - sounds like this is just the data plan itself, separate from the voiceplan.

I don't see what would be special about this plan then - it basically costs as much as the $40 a month PDA Connect plan (the only thing perhaps being the bundled text messaging).

On the other hand, why keep it secret if it is just the same $40 or so a month plan as they've always had. There's nothing remarkable about it.

$60 would still be a good deal.

I've been waiting since January (and saving too). If they make me pay $40+voice (about 80-90 each month) NO WAY!! Sorry but to go from $45 a month now to nearly $100 is wayyy out of my budget. Goodbye iPhone, I'll miss you ~tear~... Just a thought, why does data in a phone cost twice as much as the internet for a house? mmm...